Elcon City (ON HOLD, Rewriting)

Chapter Three

Her morning started even before the sun showed itself. She didn't even know if she could call it morning, it was still so dark. She guessed that it was about 2AM. Not exactly a morning. Her eyes were still heavy. And she felt like crashing down. But she was doing it for Rosa. And helping her was worth waking up at 2AM.

"Just a question; why on earth do you guys leave so early? I don't even think you could call it morning yet. Everyone else is sleeping." She asked the boy in front of her. He looked so young. She thought that he must be no older than thirteen years old.

"This is not Elcon, you know? We wake up every morning before the sun rises. That's the only way we can stay out of S.C.A.R.S's spy clones' sights. Did you know that clones' visions aren't as good as humans? They can't see in the dark that well even with night vision glasses." The boy explained.

"Oh. I see. So like, they can't see us if we leave when it's dark?"

"Not really, they see us but their sight is not as accurate as it is during the day. Their eyes are still flawed when they were made so the genes passed on. Some even say they get dizzy when they see the dark for too long with naked eyes." he answered plainly.

Trisha thought about how it explained why there are so little people who go outside after dark in Elcon. She remembered reading in a history book in fifth grade about how in the old days people would do activities even after the sun sets. She didn't really know why they stopped doing it. She had always admired the stories of people having picnics under the moonlight. But S.C.A.R.S had always made sure that no one apart from the guards is out after dark.

She watched from the controller room as a group of teenagers to middle aged people board a helicopter. They were assigned to go to the S.C.A.R.S facility far off from REX and Elcon and save as many humans as they can. But she couldn't come, they wouldn't let her. And also, using the medicine discovered to treat chronic injuries, her ankle would perfectly heal in a few days which would allow her to train. Everybody has to know how to put up a fight here.

The helicopter took off and she stared as it disappeared in the dark early morning sky.

***

When breakfast was announced at six thirty, Trisha rushed to the dining room as fast as she could. She was starving. She didn't actually get enough sustenance since she started hiding in Elcon. So she was thrilled to hear that it was breakfast time.

They served pretty good foods. Well, judging by how they look, not as good as the foods in Elcon, but better than the foods she ate while hiding. After filling her food tray she goes to find empty seats. She didn't know anyone there and therefore she'll have to do with an empty table. God, she felt like a new girl in a new school who everyone thinks is weird.

She sat down and started eating her food. Suddenly, she felt someone sat down in front of her and she looked up to see a guy about her age. His hair was ginger-red and he seemed built. Actually, it's not surprising since they probably work out every day here, almost everyone seemed built.

"You don't mind if I sit here, do you?" he asked.

"No. I guess." She replied.

The guy stared at her for a few minutes. It'd be creepy if he didn't look like a lost puppy. He actually looked adorable.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing... just, you know Greene, I think you'd really fit as a field officer." He said.

"Uh... not sure if that was compliment but thank you... um, what's your name again?"

"Haven't said it yet." He chuckled.

"Okay... are you planning to?"

"I haven't decided yet." He replied and smiled.

Alright, she might have said he looked like a lost puppy, but his personality showed that he's a major flirt, apparently.

"Oh my god, Fred, leave the poor girl alone. She just got here." a girl came to their table and sat next to her. The girl smiled at her and said, "Hey, you must be Trisha. I'm Courtney."

"Hi, Courtney, I'm guessing everyone here knows my name?" she asked.

"Oh, not everyone knows, just the ones living in the upper level. The ones living in fifth underground level and lower receives news more slowly since you know, it's deep down beneath the ground and electricity don't work that well down there."

"Ah, I see. So... your name's Fred?" Trisha asked to the ginger.

"That's me. Fred Hammond. I know Rosa well."

"You do?" Trisha's ear perked up at the mention of her best friend's name.

"Oh yeah, totally, we started training at the same time. She talks about you a lot. She'd be thrilled to know you're safe." he explained.

Trisha felt like she's going to cry, and Fred seemed like he was contemplating his whole life. Courtney cringed at sudden change of aura.

"You know what? This convo is getting a bit depressing. Oh! Did you know that Fred has a crush on her?"

"No I didn't and oh my god, really?" Trisha laughed.

"Don't believe anything Courtney says. She's been telling that lie since I first talked to Rosa." Fred denied.

"That's because I do know you have a crush on her, Freddie. You're incredibly easy to read."

Fred just shook his head and Trisha laughed. It was nice to be able to laugh at something again. After Rosa left she never truly felt happy around people, until now. Oh, how she wished she had come here sooner.

***

The healers treated her ankle every few hours and it seemed to her that it's getting better quite fast. It's been three days since she got there and she already could move around normally. What was left of her injury was a scar that barely hurt.

She'd gotten close with Courtney and Fred and that day she was about to start training. She wore a grey suit and a black jacket that comes in one set with it. She really liked it. It made her feel like a trained field officer who's a master in combat and probably super badass with guns.

She walked to the training center nervously. It was located on the second underground level. She had been there once with Courtney while watching Fred train. But she has never actually been inside the training arena. She sure hoped the trainers would go easy on her.

When she walked in, she saw some practicing with guns, some with daggers, and the rest were in a one-on-one combat. She went over to the tribune and set down her bag and scanned the arena for Fred, but with no luck. Although, she did catch a cute guy with dirty blonde hair staring at her from the tribune across the arena, he sat with his friends and a girl who had her hair braided to the side.

She turned her face away when a trainer approached her. The trainer was a woman in her twenties, she wore a trainer uniform and her makeup made her look very intimidating.

"Trisha Greene, yeah? I'm Joanne Castillo, but just call me Jo. I'm gonna be your trainer and since you're new here I'm gonna let you pick our first lesson."

She thought to herself for a moment before answering, "Basic combat?"

Jo grinned and giggled, "Oh, kid. That's my favorite thing about being a trainer. Combats are my specialties."